Page 17 - Issue 70

Vol 1 - issue 70 ELITE

He emphasized the vision of the Faculty to
become one of the best fourth-generation
universities in education, scientific
research, and community service, following
the model of prestigious international
universities. He introduced Ambassador
Raouf Saad as the ideal speaker on Egypt-

EU relations, given his current role as
Head of the National Office for the
Implementation of the Egypt-EU
Association Agreement.

Ambassador Raouf Saad began his talk
Ambassador Saad, who headed Egypt’s
by noting that the current period is one of
delegation to the Regional Cooperation
the most critical in history, with global
Working Group, and served as Regional
upheavals resembling a third world war.
Negotiator for establishing the Middle East
He suggested that the United Nations is
Bank, advocated strongly for linking
nearing a state of paralysis similar to that
economic development to national
of the League of Nations before World
sovereignty due to its geopolitical and
War II. He also commented that the
economic significance. He explained that the
European Union is at a crossroads that
geographical link between the Red Sea, the
could either strengthen or fragment it.
Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean is
unique globally, and proper development of
He then discussed Egypt-EU relations,
this area could boost Egypt’s economy by
referring to the European Neighborhood
20%. He emphasized the need for greater
Policy and emphasizing the importance of
understanding of investment opportunities
stability and security in neighboring
and challenges, suggesting a transformation
regions. He pointed out shared challenges
in the region’s trade and navigation
such as illegal migration and terrorism,
landscape. He described the Suez Canal
stressing the need to balance European
Economic Zone as the EU’s "economic and
principles with political realities and
trade lung," where European industries and
internal pressures highlighting Egypt’s
services could relocate to serve the Gulf, East
strategic role as a partner. Moving on, he
Africa, and South Asia. The Ambassador
recalled the 1991 Madrid Peace
noted that although official discussions about
Conference, where the EU proposed the
the Suez development project were
Suez Canal Area Development Project as
postponed, European vision influenced
part of its vision for regional economic
Egypt’s independent development plans.
peace.

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